The #MeToo movement was one of the defining forces of 2017, changing the conversation around the sexual harassment and discrimination that women face in the workplace and in all walks of life.
So it’s fitting to celebrate the new year by celebrating the people, companies and organizations that affect women positively. That’s the goal of the 2018 Champion Awards, four accolades organized by Seattle’s Female Founders Alliance that will be awarded in February.
The ceremony takes place Feb. 1 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., recognizing both men and women who are sponsors, advocates and role models in the tech industry and beyond. Nominees include several prominent figures from Seattle’s startup scene, including investor Heather Redman, entrepreneur Liz Pearce, Moz CEO Sarah Bird, The Riveter co-founder Amy Nelson and Ignite Washington co-founder Chaitra Vedullapalli.
The event takes place at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and will feature the announcement of the award winners, plenty of food and drink and one of the biggest gatherings of female entrepreneurs in Seattle’s history. Check out the awards website for full details. All women professionals in Seattle are also invited to vote for the winners.
That’s one of the highlights from our GeekWire community calendar, the spot for geek and tech events in Seattle and the greater Pacific Northwest. See the full calendar here, submit your event here and keep reading for more suggested events over the next few weeks.
#MeToo In Seattle Tech: What Men Can Do
What: “Are you troubled by gender-based discrimination and harassment in Seattle’s tech community? Come learn what we can do to change our industry for the better. Hosted by Tech Workers Coalition: Seattle, in association with Women of Color Speak Out, our panel will lead a discussion covering the extent of this problem in our community and what actions we can take to solve it. We’ll share the results of a survey we circulated at local tech companies, in which people shared their experiences of gender-based discrimination and harassment, and provide a forum for you to ask questions and meet others seeking to make changes in our workplaces. All are welcome to attend. Childcare and live closed captioning will be provided.”
When: Jan. 24, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Northwest Film Forum
Get Involved: Ticket options and more info on this group here.
Latinos in Tech: 2018 kick-off mixer
What: “Latino Community Fund is excited to partner with Latinos@Amazon for our 2018 kick-off Mixer on January 27th. Come join us for a great night of valuable networking, giving props, and celebrating the community. Our last mixer was a hit! If you weren’t able to attend, this is your opportunity to mix and mingle with Latino professionals in the Seattle tech industry. We’d like to thank Amazon for sponsoring this event. Latinos@Amazon is focused on building a strong community for Latino employees… Ahí nos vemos!”
When: Jan. 27, 5 – 9 p.m.
Where: Re:Public
Get Involved: No fee to attend — register for the event here.
CloudTalk – Achieving DevSecOps in Public Cloud
What: “Organizations are becoming more agile and speeding up development, many times by skipping steps meant to identify flaws in untested code or resisting efforts to add security controls to the code before it ships, exposing itself to various cyberattacks, and ruining their CxO’s cloud adoption confidence.”
When: Feb. 8, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Bellevue Chamber of Commerce
Get Involved: RSVP and find more info about the CloudTalk meetup here.
PNAA’s 17th Annual Aerospace Conference
What: “Join Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance in the heart of the Northwest Aerospace Cluster for its 17th Annual Aerospace Conference: Leading Through Change – Managing Transformation. Learn how the application of 21st century technology across the entire value chain is enabling success in the next aircraft platforms. Hear renowned aerospace analysts and speakers from Boeing, Airbus and Tier 1-3 companies as they discuss the latest market intelligence, program updates and how Industry 4.0 and modern manufacturing can enhance your success in these times of transformation.”
When: Feb. 12 – 15
Where: Lynnwood Convention Center
Get Involved: See speakers and the full conference lineup here.
Seattle’s Best Damn Happy Hour with laser tag
What: “We’re bringing something new to Best Damn Happy Hour: Laser Tag! That’s right. . . in February, we’ll turn the Armory food court into one giant Laser Tag playing field. Sign up for a game or two, and tag your friends while you enjoy affordable food and beverage options from Armory eateries, and dance to great DJ music. It’s going to be a crazy fun night. Join us!”
When: Feb. 15, 5 – 8 p.m.
Where: Seattle Center Armory
Get Involved: More details and more on Seattle’s Best Damn Happy Hour here.
